Compact gun safe

ABSTRACT

A gun safe for storing guns in a generally upright position is provided. The gun safe comprises an interior compartment which is defined by a top wall, one or more side walls, and a bottom wall. The top wall has at least one opening through the top wall to provide support for a barrel of a gun positioned within the gun safe, with the barrel extending through the opening to the exterior of the gun safe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/543,791, filed on Feb. 11, 2004.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for storing guns. Inparticular, the present invention relates to a gun safe for storing atleast one gun in a generally upright position.

When procuring a gun safe it is important to select a safe thatmaximizes the utilization of space and provides easy access to the gunsstored within the confines of the safe. Some problems associated withconventional gun safes include situations where the guns are poorlysecured, storage potential is underutilized, and excessive effort andtime is expended in storing and retrieving guns. Additionally,difficulty in accessing and retrieving stored firearms may result indamage to the guns from nicking or striking against each other and theinterior of the gun safe.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a gun storage device that iscompact and which securely stores guns while allowing easy access to theguns. The present invention fills these needs as well as other needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the above stated problems and limitations there isprovided a gun safe for storing at least one gun in a generally uprightposition. The gun safe comprises an interior compartment defined by abottom wall, one or more side walls, and a top wall. The compact elementof the gun safe can be provided by including in the top wall at leastone opening through the top wall to provide support for a barrel of agun positioned within the gun safe in a generally upright position, withthe gun barrel extending through the opening to the outside of theinterior compartment. By configuring the gun safe to allow the barrel ofa stored gun to protrude from within the gun safe, a more compact gunsafe is possible.

The concept of the gun safe can be applied to a cabinet for storing atleast one upstanding item in a generally upright position. Such acabinet comprises an interior compartment defined by a bottom wall, oneor more side walls, and a top wall. As above, the top wall has at leastone opening through the top wall to provide support for an upstandingitem positioned within the cabinet in a generally upright position, withthe upstanding item extending through the opening to the outside of theinterior compartment. Such a cabinet is compact in design, and yetallows secure storage and easy access to the upstanding items.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention will be set forth in part in the description which follows,and will in part become apparent to those in the practice of theinvention, when considered with the attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and are tobe read in conjunction therewith, wherein like reference numerals areemployed to indicate like parts in the various views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a gun safe with openings in thetop wall to provide support for the barrel of a gun;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a safe like the one shown in FIG.1 with eight guns placed therein and with the door in an open positionto reveal the interior compartment;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the safe shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the safe of FIG. 2 with the door in a closedposition;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the safe taken along 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the safe taken along line 6-6 inFIG. 2 showing a recess in the upper surface of the bottom wall toreceive the butt of the gun, and further showing a storage compartment;

FIG. 7 a is a top view of an opening in the top wall showing anover/under double barrel gun positioned in the opening;

FIG. 7 b is a top view of an opening in the top wall showing a side byside double barrel gun positioned in the opening; and

FIG. 7 c is a top view of an opening in the top wall showing a singlebarrel gun positioned in the opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1-4,there is shown a gun safe 10 which comprises an interior compartment 20defined by a bottom wall 30, four side walls 50, 52, 53, and 54, and atop wall 60. Top wall 60 has openings 66 that are defined in top wall 60that provide support for a barrel 70 of a gun 744 positioned within gunsafe 10. In use, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a butt 72 of gun 74rests on bottom wall 30 of interior compartment 20, and barrel 70extends through opening 66 in top wall 60 to the exterior of gun safe10, resulting in the gun being positioned in a generally uprightposition. By extending the barrel of the gun through top wall 60, gunsafe 10 can be more compact than many other gun safes, since the entirelength of the guns stored therein are not enclosed within interiorcompartment 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, openings 66 in top wall 60 are formed by having topwall 60 consist of a first portion 62 and a second portion 64, and bypositioning the two portions 62, 64 of top wall 60 adjacent to oneanother. Edges 80 and 82 of the first and second portions 62, 64,respectively, are contoured so that positioning the two portions 62, 64adjacent to one another defines openings 66. Preferably, openings 66approximate the shape of a gun barrel 70. In one embodiment openings 66conform to the shape of gun barrel 70 whether barrel 70 is of a singlebarrel type or double barrel type. Since double barrel types of guns canhave barrels side by side or over/under, opening 66 may be roughlyshaped like a clover to accommodate either arrangement of doublebarrels, as best seen in FIGS. 7 a-7 c. In particular, FIG. 7 a showsopening 66 with an over/under double barrel 70 positioned therein, FIG.7 b shows opening 66 with a side by side double barrel 70 positionedtherein, and FIG. 7 c shows opening 66 with a single barrel 70positioned therein.

In order to accommodate the placement of guns 74 within gun safe 10, andto accommodate their easy retrieval from gun safe 10, gun safe 10 isprovided with a door 90. Door 90 may be removable, or pivotally coupledto one or more of the side walls and may be equipped with a lockingmechanism 94 to prevent unauthorized entry into interior compartment 20of gun safe 10. The configuration of door 90 can vary, but in oneembodiment door 90 is one portion of the top wall. Door 90 may beremovable, or hinged to a side wall for easy opening. When facing thefront of gun cabinet 10, the top can be hinged to the front side wall,or the left or right side wall. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, thedoor 90 configuration can also be such that first portion 64 of top wall60 is integrally-formed with an upper portion 92 of front side wall 52to form door 90. This door configuration can also be removable, orhinged to allow opening of door 90. When facing the front of gun cabinet10, door 90 may be hinged to lower portion 96 of front side wall 52. Inthis situation, upper portion 92 of front side wall 52 is integral withthe second portion 64 of the top wall 60. In addition, door 90 may behinged to an adjacent side wall 50, 54, such as a top edge 58 of rightside wall 50 or a top edge 56 of left side wall 54.

In order to most readily facilitate the placement of guns 74 within gunsafe 10 and the retrieval of guns 74 from gun safe 10, it is mostadvantageous to have door 90 of gun safe 10, when opened, allow accessto interior compartment 20 at a height of less than 36 inches, andpreferably at a height of about 24 inches from the bottom wall of thegun safe.

As best seen in FIG. 6, in order to maintain the placement of guns 74positioned within gun safe 10, gun safe 10 can further include one ormore recesses 110 in upper surface 40 of bottom wall 30 which conform inshape to the shape of a gun butt 72. Gun safe 10 may further includerods 100 or other retaining means positioned between guns when guns arepositioned in gun safe 10, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. A fasteningstrap may also be included which can pass through the triggers of guns74 positioned within gun safe 10, further holding the guns in theposition in which they were placed.

As should be readily apparent, any of the surfaces within interiorcompartment 20 may include a protective lining to cushion any gunpositioned within gun safe 10. Such protective lining could be made fromfelt or foam or rubber or any other suitable protective material. Theprotective lining would help to further prevent the guns from scratchesor nicks, and can be either a separate piece or integrally attached tothe surfaces of the walls forming interior compartment 20.

In order to accommodate storage of other equipment and accessories inthe gun safe, such as ammunition, gun cleaning supplies, and the like,gun safe 10 may further include a storage compartment defined within orpositioned exterior to the interior compartment of gun safe 10. Ifpositioned within interior compartment 20 and not within reach of thedoor, a second door may be provided to allow access to the storagecompartment, in which case the second door can also be equipped with alocking mechanism. Referring to FIG. 6, the storage compartment 120 ifpositioned exterior to interior compartment 20 of gun safe 10 ispreferably placed underneath bottom wall 30 of interior compartment 20,and can again include its own door 140 and locking mechanism.

In use, door 90 to gun safe 10 is opened and one or more guns may beplaced within interior compartment 20 of gun safe 10. Butts 72 of guns74 are placed on upper surface 40 of bottom wall 30, or preferably inrecess 110 in upper surface 40, barrels 70 of guns 74 are positionedagainst first portion 62 of top wall 60, and door 90 may then be closed.The closing of door 90 positions second portion 64 of top wall 60adjacent to first portion 62, forming openings 66 which conform to theshape of gun barrels 70, and barrels 70 of guns 74 which are positionedwithin gun safe 10 extend from openings 66 to the exterior of gun safe10. Safe door 90 may then be secured, as with locking mechanism 94, toprevent access to the stored guns.

Having thus described the gun safe of the subject invention withreference to the figures, the invention further provides a cabinet forstoring at least one upstanding item in a generally upright position.Such upstanding items could include, for example, fishing rods, orarchery bows, or other items that are generally amenable to being storedin an upright position. The cabinet for storing at least one upstandingitem in a generally upright position comprises an interior compartmentdefined by a bottom wall, one or more side walls, and a top wall. Thetop wall has at least one opening therein to provide support for theupstanding items when they are positioned within the cabinet in agenerally upright position. The upstanding item then extends through theopening in the top wall to the outside of the interior compartment. Aswith the gun safe described above, in one embodiment the top wall hastwo portions which when positioned adjacent to one another define theopenings through the top wall. Furthermore, in one embodiment one of thetwo portions of the top wall is integral with a top portion of a sidewall to form a door. Furthermore, in one embodiment the door is hingedto a lower portion of the side wall to allow opening of the cabinet.Where desired, the cabinet can further comprise a locking mechanism.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it willbe understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto,since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art,particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Reasonable variationand modification are possible within the scope of the foregoingdisclosure of the invention without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

1. A gun safe for storing at least one gun in a generally uprightposition, said gun safe comprising: an interior compartment defined by abottom wall, one or more side walls, and a top wall, wherein the topwall has at least one opening defined in the top wall to provide supportfor a barrel of a gun positioned within the gun safe in a generallyupright position, the barrel extending through the opening to outside ofthe interior compartment.
 2. The gun safe of claim 1, wherein said topwall has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first andsecond portions are positioned adjacent to one another to define the atleast one opening through the top wall.
 3. The gun safe of claim 2,wherein one of said first and second portions of said top wall form adoor that is hinged to the gun safe to allow access to the interiorcompartment of said gun safe.
 4. The gun safe of claim 3, wherein thedoor is hinged to one of the side walls.
 5. The gun safe of claim 2,wherein one of said first and second portions of said top wall isintegrally formed with an upper portion of the side wall to form a door.6. The gun safe of claim 5, wherein said door is hinged to a lowerportion of said side wall to allow access to the interior compartment ofsaid gun safe.
 7. The gun safe of claim 5, wherein said door is hingedlycoupled with an adjacent side wall to allow access to the interiorcompartment of said gun safe.
 8. The gun safe of claim 7, wherein saiddoor is hinged to a top edge of the adjacent side wall to allow accessto the interior compartment of said gun safe.
 9. The gun safe of claim5, wherein the upper portion of said side wall forming said door isabout the upper one third of said side wall.
 10. The gun safe of claim9, wherein said door hinge is positioned about 24 inches from the bottomwall of the gun safe.
 11. The gun safe of claim 1, wherein the bottomwall has an upper surface for contacting the butt of the gun positionedwithin the gun safe in a generally upright position.
 12. The gun safe ofclaim 11, wherein at least one recess is formed in the upper surface ofthe bottom wall, wherein the at least one recess conforms to the shapeof a gun butt.
 13. The gun safe of claim 1, wherein said openingconforms to the shape of a gun barrel.
 14. The gun safe of claim 1,further comprising a locking mechanism.
 15. The gun safe of claim 1,further comprising a protective lining on one or more of the bottomwall, one or more side walls, and top wall within the interiorcompartment to cushion a gun positioned within the gun safe in agenerally upright position.
 16. The gun safe of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one fastening strap within the interior compartmentfor retaining a gun with a barrel that extends through the opening tothe outside of the interior compartment.
 17. The gun safe of claim 1,further comprising a storage compartment defined within or positionedexterior to the interior compartment.
 18. The gun safe of claim 17,wherein said storage compartment is lockable.
 19. A gun safe for storingat least one gun in a generally upright position, said gun safecomprising: an interior compartment defined by a bottom wall, one ormore side walls, and a top wall, wherein the top wall has at least oneopening through the top wall to provide support for a barrel of a gunpositioned within the gun safe in a generally upright position, thebarrel extending through the opening to outside of the interiorcompartment; wherein said top wall has a first portion and a secondportion, the first and second portions are positioned adjacent to oneanother to define the at least one opening through the top wall; whereinone of said first and second portions of said top wall is integral withan upper portion of a side wall to form a door; and wherein the door ishinged to a lower portion of said side wall to allow opening of said gunsafe.
 20. The gun safe of claim 19, further comprising a lockingmechanism.
 21. A cabinet for storing at least one upstanding item in agenerally upright position, said cabinet comprising: an interiorcompartment defined by a bottom wall, one or more side walls, and a topwall, wherein the top wall has at least one opening through the top wallto provide support for an upstanding item positioned within the cabinetin a generally upright position, the upstanding item extending throughthe opening to outside of the interior compartment.
 22. The cabinet ofclaim 21, wherein said top wall has a first portion and a secondportion, the first and second portions are positioned adjacent to oneanother to define the at least one opening through the top wall, whereinone of said first and second portions of said top wall is integrallyformed with an upper portion of a side wall to form a door, and whereinthe door is hinged to a lower portion of said side wall to allow accessto the interior compartment of said cabinet.
 23. The cabinet of claim21, further comprising a locking mechanism.